Meet Rahyl: Genelia-Riteish Deshmukh's 10-year-old son debuts in Raja Shivaji

Rahyl Deshmukh, Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh's younger son, makes a striking debut as young Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Raja Shivaji, instantly grabbing attention online.

In Short

• Rahyl Deshmukh debuts in Raja Shivaji film at age ten
• Riteish Deshmukh directs and stars as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
• Genelia D'Souza plays Saibai, Shivaji Maharaj's wife

Genelia D'Souza and Riteish Deshmukh's younger son, Rahyl, has made his acting debut in the upcoming film, Raja Shivaji. The trailer, released on Monday, features Rahyl portraying the young Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, while Riteish takes on the role of the titular character and also directs the film.

With his debut, Rahyl, just 10 years old, has captured the attention of social media, where glimpses of him in the trailer are going viral. He is the younger son of Riteish and Genelia, with their elder son, Riaan, born in 2014. The siblings are often appreciated for their courteous public appearances, especially their habit of greeting the paparazzi with a namaste.

Raja Shivaji trailer launch

At the trailer launch, Riteish shared insights into the arduous journey of making the film, expressing gratitude towards Genelia for her unwavering support. Reflecting on the challenges, he said, "It's been 10 years... I first wanted to play Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 2016, but it didn't happen. Then I tried again, and COVID happened." Holding back tears, he added, "It felt like Shivaji Maharaj was telling me, ‘Wait, my child... it's not the right time.'"

Genelia, standing by his side, has been a pillar of strength throughout the process. "Dreaming is not a big deal... anyone can dream," Riteish remarked. "But having someone who stands by you while you are dreaming... that is Genelia. Someone who believed in me, someone who made this dream a reality... that is Genelia," he said, as Genelia was moved to tears.

The trailer, rich with Maratha ethos, history, and pride, depicts Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a valiant ruler who combats the Mughal and Adil Shahi dynasties to establish swarajya. In the film, Genelia portrays Shivaji Maharaj's wife, Saibai.

Raja Shivaji, also features Sanjay Dutt, Vidya Balan, and Abhishek Bachchan in significant roles and is set to release on May 1.

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